LAS VEGAS (Aug. 15, 2026) – After shooting 1 of 10 to open the third quarter, the Las Vegas Aces (24-12) fought back from a pair of 10-point deficits, but could not bridge the gap and dropped a 92-87 contest to the Minnesota Lynx (29-7) on Saturday evening. A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 32 points and added 7 rebounds; NaLyssa Smith notched a 17-point, 12-carom double-double; Chelsea Gray finished with 12 points and 9 assists; Jewell Loyd added 10 points and Jackie Young chipped in 8 points and dished out 9 dimes.

Six Lynx scored in double figures, led by 23 points from Olivia Miles.

Stats | Gallery | Highlights

TEAM	1	2	3	4	Final
Aces	19	29	16	23	92
Lynx	23	25	26	18	87

1st Quarter Highlights (Minnesota 23, Las Vegas 19)
The Aces jumped out to a 5-0 lead and remained in front for the first 6 minutes of the period, before Minnesota knotted the score at 14-all. With less than 2 minutes left in the quarter, the game was again tied up (18-18). The Lynx converted an and-1 to go ahead 21-18 and held the lead through the end of the frame. Las Vegas shot just 38.9% from the field, including 2 of 7 from deep, and assisted on all 7 of its made buckets; Minnesota connected on 55.6% of its tries and 2 of 5 behind the arc. Wilson and Natasha Howard led their respective teams with 9 points apiece.

2nd Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 48, Minnesota 48)
Minnesota increased its lead to 7 with a 3 out of the gate but the Aces drew it back with the help of a 6-2 run by Smith. Following another Lynx 3 that left the score 31-25, the Aces strung together 8 straight points for a 33-31 edge. Through the remaining 6 minutes of the half there were 7 ties and no more than a 3-point score differential. The Aces hit 65% of their shots in the second quarter and went 3 of 6 from 3-point; the Lynx made 55.6% of theirs and 4 of 7 from afar. Wilson was 5 of 6 from the floor for 10 points and Kayla McBride scored 8 for Minnesota.

3rd Quarter Highlights (Minnesota 74, Las Vegas 64)
The Aces made just 1 of 10 from the field and gave up 5 points off 4 turnovers, allowing Minnesota to take a 62-52 lead in the first 6 minutes of the stanza. Wilson scored 9 points in a 12-4 Aces run that closed the gap to 66-64. However, Minnesota hit back-to-back 3s and made a pair of free throws to reclaim its 10-point advantage. In all, Las Vegas made just 3 of 13 (.231) from the field and 1 of 5 from deep, while Minnesota made 43.8% of its attempts overall and 3 of 7 from 3-point. Both sides scored an even 9 of 9 from the line. Wilson scored 11 and Nia Coffey checked in for 9 points for the Lynx.

4th Quarter Highlights (Minnesota 92, Las Vegas 87)
The Aces made all 4 of their attempts in a 9-0 run to narrow the gap to 74-73. However, back-to-back 3s from the Lynx expanded the deficit to 80-73 with just under 7 minutes to play. Las Vegas fought back and were within 3 points, 90-87, with 8.3 seconds left but time was not on the Aces side. Shooting improved for the Aces, who made 3 of 10 from 3, to 44.4% in the quarter; Minnesota made 41.7% of its field goal attempts and just 2 of 7 from deep. Gray scored 7 and Napheesa Collier had 8 for the Lynx.

KEY STATS

The ACLU is currently tracking 528 anti-LGBTQ+ bills across our nation, zero of which are in Nevada.

Women still make just 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. Black women earn only 64 cents and Latinas only 54 cents for each dollar earned by white men.

Young’s 9 assists accounted for 23 points and Gray’s 9 converted into 20.

19 of Wilson’s 21 points from the floor were assisted, her other 11 came from the line.

	FGM-A	PCT	3PM-A	PCT	FTM-A	PCT	OFF	DEF	REB	AT	PF	ST	TO	BK
Aces	31-69	.449	9-28	.321	16-18	.889	12	17	29	20	14	7	13	2
Lynx	32-64	.500	11-26	.423	17–18	.944	7	25	32	14	22	9	15	1

Points scored ….

	In the Paint	2nd Chance	Fast Break	Off TOs	Bench
Aces	30	12	9	13	16
Lynx	32	16	3	8	12

GAME NOTES

Wilson moved past Candace Parker (6,574) and into No. 11 on the league’s all-time career scoring charts. She now has 6,580 career points. N0. 10 is Breanna Stewart (6,709) and No. 9 is Sue Bird (6,803), just 223 points away.

Young passed Nos. 28 Odyssey Sims and Katie Smith, who have 1,258 assists apiece, and her 1,264 career assists list at No. 27 on the league’s all-time chart.

After posting 7 assists and zero turnovers in the first half tonight, Gray now stands third all-time in halves with at least 7 assists and zero turnovers with 10 such halves, trailing Ticha Penicheiro and Courtney Vandersloot, both of whom have 16. Sue Bird is No. 4 on the list with 9.

Gray has dished out at least 4 assists in a league-leading 23 straight games.

Wilson upped her total of league-leading 30-point games to 11, and the 48th of her career, which trails only Diana Taurasi’s 54 on the all-time charts; it also marked her 26th 20-point game of the season, tied as tops in the W, and league third-most 188th of her career (Taurasi, 259; Tina Charles, 190).

With a game-high 10 made field goals, Wilson (2,391) passed Tamika Catchings (2,385) to take the No. 13 spot on the league’s all-time list. Cappie Pondexter (2,446) stands at No. 12.

With 1 blocked shot tonight, Wilson reached 600 for her career and became only the 6th player in WNBA history to hit the milestone.

Smith chalked up her 4th double-double of the year and 3rd in 5 games.

Wilson has scored in double figures a league-leading 57 consecutive games.

Young is now tied with Natalie Williams for 6th in franchise history for rebounds with 1,156 each.

Gray broke a tie with Penny Taylor and lists No. 28 on the WNBA all-time steals list, trailing No. 27 Kayla McBride’s 481. No. 26 is Becky Hammon with 488.

Tonight’s game marked the Aces 63rd straight sellout at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Las Vegas was without the services of Kierstan Bell (personal), Dana Evans (left leg) and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (concussion protocol).

UP NEXT

The Aces will look to clinch a season sweep against the Atlanta Dream (21-12) Tuesday night. Tip is at 6 p.m. on the ESPN televised contest.

Related News

GAME RECAP: Las Vegas Aces Unable to Overcome Early Deficit, Fall 96-66 at Dallas

GAME RECAP: Aces Unable to Cap Sparks' Scoring, Fall 101-95

GAME RECAP: Aces Deliver Win No. 100 to Becky Hammon with 106-80 Defeat of Wings

GAME RECAP: Jewell Loyd, Jackie Young Combine for 49 Points in 88-84 Victory over Dallas